Winneshiek County Road Department is responding to a lot of people harvesting seeds from the right of way

The Winneshiek County Road Department is reminding the public it doesn't allow harvest of native grasses or forbs from our highways or gravel road right of ways, as stated in ordinance 19-214.
 
Winneshiek County has some spectacular remnant prairies that are working habitats which provide necessary environments for pollinators and wildlife.
 
That means that planting, mowing, harvesting, spraying or other maintenance within right-of-way that does not meet county standards, including digging or removal of wildflower plants or seeds from right-of-way, is prohibited.  Furthermore, all seed harvested from county roadsides must be reseeded back onto public lands within the county. Native prairie seed harvested from the right-of-way cannot be sold.  All harvesting of these species in right-of-ways shall only be done by or under the direct supervision of the County Engineer Department.